Pneumatic weir-shutter.



J. ASHFORDKz S. LEGGETT.

PNEUMATIC WEIR SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED-MAR. so, 1912.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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height under tank or float aforementioned is frame at the lower end by a catch of any JOHN ASHFORD AND STEPHEN IiEGGETT, 0F AMRITSAR, INDIA.

PNEUMATIC WEIR-SHUTTER.

1,040,112. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1912. Serial No. 687,432.

It is preferred to so attach the shutter to the Weir that when recumbent the upper end of the shutter points up-streann'and also to limit the when it is raised horizontal is less T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN Asnronn. and STEPHEN Lneon'r'r, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residents of Amritsar, Punjab, India, have invented certain new and useful Pneumatic WVeir- Shutters, and of which the following is the specification.

iVeir shutters are used to increase the. height of weirs or dams that may be built in the beds of rivers or other situations to impound water for irrigation, hydro-electric installations, or other purposes. The weir shutters are. usually attached to the tops of the dams: or weirs to increase the normal conditions, and. they are so arranged that at the approach of flood they may be lowered to give a clearer passage for the Water.

The object of this invention is to provide a weir shutter which may be readily; raised in deep water and which may with equal readiness be lowered again.

The manner in which it is arranged to so that its angle to the than a right angle, and

or more rods or other attachments, :or some form of stop suitably placed. Preferably the rods used to limit or as compression elements. ience the rods are attached by hin'ge pins to a suitably situated anchorage in the weir masonry. The upper end of the rods have CTOSSTPTDS toform Y groove in the shu 'ter that they may slide along they. engage stops which shutter.

lift the shutters from their recumbent posidetents are placed and so situated that they, tion is to construct the shutter in part of a from the upper side, penetrate the grooves tank or float closed above but with openings in which the T-shaped rod-ends slide, and

the object of these detents is that they may engage .the rod-ends when the shutter is raised and so ing if the tank loses its buoyancy. As the top of the shutter when recumbent, ing buoyant that it will rise in water, the points tip-stream, buoyancy causing the shutter to rise into sisted by thestream when the lift has been the position required. The shutter is concommenced. p v \Vhen the shutter is inoelevated position,

structed also in part of a frame that is at tached by hinges to the weir crest, the part the pressure of the impounded water tends to force the tank or float away from the of the frame where it hinges to the weir frame, and when the catch or fastening,

crest may for convenience be called the r lower end or bottom of the shutter. The which locks'the tank or float to the lower end or bottom of the frame, is released, the

attached to the frame by hinges to the top end, that is water pressure to say at the opposite end to the hinges which attach the frame to the weir crest.

The tank or float may also be secured to the beneath, and air suitably compressed is conveyed through a pipe, so arranged that the air can be delivered through the openings beneath into the said tank or float to displace the water, the tank or float so becomfastened to the frame by to escape. float away from the frame, detents which rods in the grooves of the frame, and thus the frame is free to fall into a recumbent position; As the tank or float isnowatdesign which may in any suitable manner withdraws the be actuated to attach or lock the tank or float to the frame at the lower end, or on the contrary, may in any suitable manner be actuated to release or unlock the tank or float from the frame so that its lower end may become detached from the frame, the theiwhole weight of the frame is concenonly remaining attachment between the trated at that end, and the tank tilts'dowu tank or float and the frame being the hinged ward: "This places the openings- 'beneath connection at the top end. the tank, at its movement of the shutter Beneath the tank and attached thereto;

prevent the shutter from'fallthe effort of lifting is as-,

tached to the frame, at the top end only,

Patented Oct. 1,1912.

this range of movement is limited by one the I movement of the shutter when it rises should be equally efiective either as tension For conven T-shaped ends,and theyare constrained within a T-shaped' frame, in such manner;

the grooves: untir limit the motiom I and thereby" limit the angle of lift of the forces the tank or float away from the frame except in so far as it is, I hinges at the top end, thus the impounded waters are allowed; The movement of the tank or locked the aforementioned lower end, ina higheryposi s I other of the lower hinge details.

1. W hen erect, it inclines up stream at an .top end of the rod s also provided which looks the rods in poframe until the stop G is tion, the tank becont es filled with water, and the whole sinks down into the recumbent position.

In order that the invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly understood there is hereunto appended two sheets of drawings showing a simple, illustrative and explanatory example of the carrying out of the invention, Figure 1 being a side elevation of the shutter in erect position, Fig. 2 a sectional side elevation of the same in recumbent position, Figs. 3 and 4 sectional elevations of detent details. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations at right angles to each other, and to an'enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the shutter; and Figs. Tand 8 are sections at right angles to each its sides, each of these main members being constructed of two channel irons placed hollow to hollow, so forming the T groove within which the rod ends of F may slide, the pin S in the rod ends resting on the flanges of the channels. hen the shi'ltter is erect as in Fig. 1, a detent II (Fig. 4) slips over the end of the rod and so locks it. This detent H, is attached to the float B and 'merely slips in between the channels to enable it to act as a detent to the rod F.

When the shutter is to be released the following is the action The frame A being merely two side members, built into a frame with top and bottom members, is

quite open and so 18 virtually a rectangle which itself cannot impound water. he float B attached to it forms the screen to impound the water, and it will do so, so long .as it is secured to the frame. If however the hook E is released in any convenient manner, for example, from the pin 11, as hereinafter described the float B remain attached to the frame hinges at the top end D, and the water impounded will force away the float as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the water escaping through the frame and under the float. The detent H being attached to the float is lifted away from the rod F, and the frame is no longer locked in erect position. As also the water pressure is no longer operative tomaintain it erect, it will tend to fall into recumbent position and it will do so unless otherwise prevented. The float having floated up to water surface becomes for the moment horizontal, but the weight of the frame at D will tend to make that end dip lower in the water. Now, underneath the lower part of the float, at or about the part where the air is admitted, there are large holes U in the plating, through which the water escapes W1 ing now tilted so that the end D is the lowest part, the air in the float can escape and water can enter it through these holes. As buoyancy is lost the end D plunges below water, and as the float becomes filled with water it sinks down until it reclines on the frame in recumbent position, the catch E being arranged to automatically secure it in place. I

The means for supplying, admitting and controlling the air, comprise an air pump of any suitable type placed in a convenient permanent position and a main pipe I Fig. 2 which is laid in the weir crest, preferably in a channel. From this pipe at intervals, branches J are taken to the shutters. These are coupled to the hinge pins which as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are made hollow for the passage of air. The hinge pins are fixed in the parts C and cannot rotate. Within the frame there is a hinge block K fitting upon the hinge pin. Through both hinge In this example, which is merely illustrative and by no means limitative, the shutter asza whole comprises two main parts, an open'frame A, and a tank or float B, (hereinafter called the float). The frame A is attached to the weir by hinges C C and the float B is attached by hinges D to the frame A at the top end. The float B is also secured to the frame at the botto 1: end by a fastening E, which may be of any suitable construction, and in the drawings is shown as a hook. The fulcrum or spindle M of the hook E is shown in the frame, and the pin R, which the hooked end catches, is in the float.

\Vhen air has been forced into the float to displace the water until there is enough buoyancy, it is obvious that the shutter will lift from the recumbent position dotted in Fig.

angle of 45 or thereabout. The exact angle is not important. Inasmuch as it points up-stream, it is obvious that when lifting, the stream will, once the lifting has commenced, help it up into the erect position, and the impounded water will, when it is erect maintain a pressure upon it, due to any difference of head up and down stream of the shutter.

To secure the shutter in correct position when erect, detaining rods F are placed below, and they are so arranged that their upper ends fit into and slide along T grooves, there being a transverse pin S fixed in the to keep it in the groove. Within the T groove there is a fixed stop G which limits the along the slot and thereby limits the angle of lift of the shutter. 1 movable detent H sition when erect, so preventing the shutter reached. It may be here explained that it is convenient to build the frame of two main members, at

block K and pin C,,holes V, W, are drilled in position to coincide when the shutter is recumbent, so that air may have a clear'pas- ,1 device which may be rendered buoyantby sage through and up a short pipe L secured displacing water by air)*hinged to a frame, in the hole W in the block K into the inteand-it is evident that the detail of the ink rior of the float, the water escaping through vention in that matter "of detents, air slip the large holesU farther along in the plating ply, and control mechanism, and so forth, of the float. As the shutter rises, the block mayfbe widely varied without departing K turns around the hinge pin, andthe ac from that essence." V What we claim is:-'

tion is similar to that of a plug-cock cutting off the supply of air.- We may assume 1. -Aweir shutter comprising in combina-- that as the air main pipe I is below water tion a 'part which may berendered buoyant it may become swamped with; water when by the displacement of water by air,,means for the supply of this air andforits sub-' sequent .discharge, a hinged frame-like part,

not in use, thus as air 1s forced into it by the pump the water will be forced back until and hinged and detent, interconnectionsbe' tween the parts.

the branch J to the firstyshutterof a series is reached, and the air will then pass through:

J, the easiest way of escape, until that shut- 2: A weir shutter comprising in combination a hinged frame and. hinged at its upper end .tothe top thereof a float, means for adter becomes buoyant and lifts, the actoflifting closes the air passage at K, and the mitting water to the float to submerge it, means for displacing that water by air and air then forces back the water along" the main pipe I until the branch J to the secinterconnecting detent means between float and frame.

ond shutter is reached and that shutter 1s 3. A weir shutter comprising in. combinafilled with air and lifts. In this manner the shutters rise in regular sequence.

The method Of releasing the shutters Will tion a hinged frame and hinged at its upper be clear from Fig. 3. The hooks E, on end tothe top thereof a float, means for admitting water to the float to submerge it, means for displacing that water by air, a

either side of frame A are attached to a spindle M which extends beyond the frame hook-end fastening fulcrumed in the frame, a pin in the float and means for engaging at one end, toward the pier or controllers position. On the spindle M there is a lever N. The frame A extends beyond the hingethe fastening. with the pm and disengaging it therefrom.

pin a short distance, and there is a pro ect- 4. A weir shutter comprising in combinaing piece 0 Fig. 3 attached to it, in such osition that the piece 0 on frame A of the tion a hinged frame and hin ed at its upper first shutter shall project and engage the end tofthe top thereof a oat, means for admittingwater to the float to submerge it, means fordisplacing that waterby air, a

lever N of the second shutter. The piece O- on shutter frame of the second shall enhook=en'd fastening fulcrumed in the frame, for engaging the gage lever N of the third shutter and so on.

Now when the first shutter is released by a pin in' the float, means a suitable mechanism such for example as a fastening with the pin, a lever on the fulcrum of the. fastening, and a projection on handled spindle T attached to the lever N it descends into recumbent posltion as herethe frame in uch siti n that it roje ts I and is capable of engaging inbefore described and the piece 0 rises on the succeeding weir shutter so that the.

and lifts the lever N of the second shutter, so rotating spindle M through a small angle, release of the first shutter causes the release of the whole series.

thus unhooking the catch E which releases p this second shutter. That in turn, as itfalls; y 5; Awei'i' shutter comprising in combina tion a hinged frame, afloat, a hinge cong into recumbent position, in like manner ac tuates the hooks of the third shutter and so nection, between frame and float at their upper ends, interconnecting detentmechaon through any number in series, thus the nism between the r lower ends a main air release of the first shutter causes the release H of the whole series, each float being retained supply pipe, branches therefrom., to each frame hinge, a block on the hinge, apertures in its recumbent posltion by the catch be ing again made to engage the-"pin Rrowing: through block and hinge,. a pipe. leading to the weight of the lever N (then free) of" each succeeding shutter rotating its spindle M.

To keep all water tightwhen the shut ters are raised, the float B is edged along thebottom with a strip P of wood to seat a 'ainst the weir sill, and also strips of wood Combination-l r 'y Of what, has been termeda float (that definition covering a -.ifioat,jand"apertures 1n the float through which water can-enter and be forced oji tof the interior thereof. j A

' 6; A weir shutter comprising in combination; a hinged frame, motion between frame and float at gtheir from' these, apertures to the. interior; of; the

afloat, a hinge. eon- I iri ay be placed down the sides ofthe floats upper ends, interconnecting detent mechm I to make joints betweenthem. 'ni'smbetween their lower ends, means to The essence of the invention lies inthe limit "the range of movement of the shutter that, its angle to the horizontal is less than a right angle, means for admitting water to the interior-0f the float, means for displacing that water by air, and interconnecting detent means between fioat and frame. a y

A weir shutter comprising in combination a hinged frame, a float, a hinge connection between frame when it is raised so and float at their upper ends, interconnecting detent mechanism between their lower ends, a hinged rod, a cross-pin on the upper end of the rod, a groove in the shutter frame in which the cross-pin works stops in the groove, a 1

tent on the float capable of engaging the cross-pin in the groove in the frame, means for admitting water to the interior of the float, means for displacing that Water by an, and lnterconnecting detent means between fioat and frame.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ASHFORD. V STEPHEN LEGGETT. Witnesses:

L. MORTIMER BAINES,

G, YV TsoN,

' N Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

